Introductions & Background:
Welcome! My name is Matt, I am a husband, father, and tax professional. I have had a long-standing desire to write - articles, informational documents, a book, the next great American novel (probably not, while I do express some creativity, I don’t think I will rival the notoriety of popular writers like John Grisham or Ernest Hemingway). I've always had the itch to write, but the right topic never quite crystallized. I imagine in part that is because there needs to be a starting point, a first step in this journey of writing. With that being the background, so begins this Substack adventure. This Substack will be a place where I share insights from my 20+ years in the tax industry—lessons learned, mistakes to avoid, and ways to build a sustainable career without burning out.
So what do I want to write?
That question is a challenge - what to write? The reflection required to honestly ponder that question includes introspection as I wrestle in considering “what can I contribute that would be worth others investing precious time in reading these writings?” I know your time is valuable, so I want to make every post worth reading.
In light of that, I have decided that I want to share out of my years of experience in the tax industry. I have been in the tax field for 20+ years, starting shortly after graduating college. Ah, I was but a mere, wee lad. I came to work with my mom, she had started a bookkeeping, accounting, and financial planning firm. She had been in business for about 15-20 years at that time. This was the place I started my tax career. Looking back, I recall that I jumped in with both feet during my second tax season, working crazy long hours required to meet deadlines and spending time growing the business. I was young and believed that longer hours and higher volume were critical to financial success and providing for my family.
Looking back, I wish someone had come alongside and counseled me toward a healthy balance between work and personal life. My wife was loving and gracious towards me, not placing unnecessary guilt for the time away from the family, we both saw great flexibility in the “off-season”, but I was a zombie during tax season at home as I had long days filled with appointments and tasks to be completed, coming home on an empty emotional tank for my wife and kids.
From what I have seen on social media, many tax professionals struggle with many of the same challenges - long hours, low fees, and working through exhaustion. I believe sharing lessons learned can help others avoid these common pitfalls. Hopefully, this will help other professionals implement a healthier work-life balance.
So what to expect…
For now, I expect the writing to be done when inspiration strikes, but I will strive to post something once a month. I have gained experience from many different areas - professional organizations, friends, family, coaching programs, and communities; I will be pulling from these interactions to share lessons and insights learned. There may be some things shared that readers may have seen somewhere else, that’s OK as there is a saying that I like to use: “repetition pierces the smallest intellect, let me repeat that, repetition pierces the smallest intellect.” Sometimes we need to hear something multiple times to have it click and implement change based on that new learned information.
I am optimistic that this may be beneficial to others (and if not, it will be a cathartic exercise as I get to work on that desire to write). If any of this resonates with you, let me know! Drop a comment, share your thoughts, or suggest a topic you'd like me to explore. I’d love to hear from you and learn from your experiences too!
I hope these words encourage you and remind you that you are not alone. Until next time, thanks for stopping by.
I look forward to your insights.
Congrats, Matt! I’m looking forward to reading more.